News & market updates

JETRO Executive VP Okumura said JETRO aims to position Sri Lanka as an export hub linking India, the Middle East and Africa and will send a Japanese business delegation to Sri Lanka next month. She cited political stability, improving macro conditions and port infrastructure as drivers, noting interest across manufacturing, logistics, agri/food processing, electronics and mineral supply links.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said UK Deputy PM David Lammy's visit reinforces international confidence and welcomed the UK's decision to grant zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan textile exports. He flagged tourism, exports and FDI as priority areas, urged sustained forex inflows and outlined post-Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction measures.

The Export Development Board will host the Southern Province Regional Exporters’ Networking Forum in Matara on 24 Feb 2026 to identify exporters' challenges and explore growth opportunities. Exporters and officials from Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Monaragala will attend; Minister Sunil Hadunnetti will preside and EDB is collecting region-specific proposals.

Macktiles launched Macktiles Australia in Victoria, entering the Australian market; the Sri Lankan turnkey tile maker reports production capacity of 44,000 sq m/day and about 40% local market share. It already exports to the US, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kenya, the Maldives and Indonesia and opened its 50th showroom in 2025.

A Japanese delegation met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to advance the Sri Lanka–Japan export-industrial corridor aimed at attracting Japanese manufacturing investment for export markets (particularly India); a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed during the President's visit to Japan.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC says it was the largest lender to Sri Lanka's SME sector for the fifth consecutive year, disbursing Rs. 330.95 billion in 2024 (30.4% of industry disbursements). The bank highlights digital initiatives (LEAP GlobalLinker, AI credit underwriting), green loans and expanded rural outreach to support SMEs.

Dr Parakrama Dissanayake assumed office as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on 17 Feb 2026 and will focus on improving port operations and logistics efficiency. He previously held senior leadership roles at Aitken Spence PLC.

Oniverse Group is investing about EUR 30m to build a new plant in Sri Lanka to produce a capsule used in bras. The company says Sri Lanka remains a specialised hub for technically demanding intimate apparel but faces logistics, labour and cost constraints and needs stable policy to attract long-term investment.

Lee Hedges PLC (SHAW.N0000) has appointed Mohan Ratnayake as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Ratnayake is a CIMA fellow with experience in tea exports and plantations, chaired the committee for SLT's USD bond issuance, and holds/directs roles at several listed companies.

EU leaders endorsed a 'Buy European Only' policy; Frontier Research says it does not yet directly affect Sri Lanka but could hurt export earnings if GSP+ preferences are diluted. Key vulnerable sectors noted are tea, rubber and apparel, while stricter rules could also affect IT, medical services and electronics ties.

99x won the Gold Award in the Extra-Large Category (ICT, BPO & Related Services) at the 33rd National Chamber of Exporters Awards, underscoring its export performance and global growth.

A high-level Japanese delegation met President Dissanayake to advance plans for a Sri Lanka–Japan export-industrial corridor intended to attract Japanese manufacturing investment focused on exports (notably to India) and deepen bilateral economic ties.

Hayleys PLC held the Chairman’s Awards 2025, with Haycarb PLC winning the Overall Award for innovation in specialty activated carbon for silicon‑carbon anode materials and Hayleys Fabric PLC winning an ESG award for a smart energy‑saving stenter system that cuts fuel use and CO₂ emissions. The awards highlighted innovations across energy transition, agriculture and logistics supporting exports and sustainability.

SriLankan Cargo became the first airline in South Asia to receive IATA CEIV Live Animals certification, confirming its compliance with IATA Live Animals Regulations and capability to transport live animals humanely and securely across its global network.

Sri Lanka and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to formalise economic policy dialogue and to pursue a roadmap including an industrial economic corridor with a working group to operationalize it. Presentations covered foreign investment policy, export capacity and JETRO and Japanese firms shared insights on the business environment.

CEAT Kelani completed its 2025-26 'CEAT Cares' school road safety equipment distribution, delivering 600 items to 30 more schools and bringing the total number of benefitted schools to 350. The programme provided signboards, cones and traffic warden jackets to support school traffic management.

EDB, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority ran a webinar on SFDA export registration procedures for Sri Lankan exporters, attended by over 90 companies. Presentations covered registration, facility approval and inspections for foods, beverages, fisheries and herbal products; Saudi was Sri Lanka's 23rd export market in 2025 with USD 137.85m exports (+13.3%).

Sri Lanka will participate at BIOFACH 2026 in Nuremberg (10–13 Feb 2026) with a Sri Lanka Country Pavilion organised by the EDB and NOCU, featuring eight certified organic exporters. The pavilion will showcase organic coconut products, spices (including PGI Pure Organic Ceylon Cinnamon), tea and other value-added goods, include SME promotion and live demos, and involve talks with international regulators to strengthen export standards.

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka held its 67th AGM in Colombo to push an MSME growth agenda and back the Export Development Board's National Export Development Plan to boost trade competitiveness, diversify into value‑added production and expand AI-enabled services and market linkages.

IFC committed $28.6 million (part of a $40m package) to CBL Group to support its acquisition of PT Tri Jaya Tangguh Indonesia and the expansion of CBL’s biscuit facility in Ghana to extend the group's presence across Asia and Africa.

The EDB held a hybrid awareness session on 11 Feb 2026 with about 200 exporters to explain the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), providing guidance on recent reforms, eligibility, documentation, rules of origin and how to claim tariff preferences.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board will hold a specialised workshop on 'Risk Management, Strategies and Incoterms' for potential and SME exporters on 18 February, 9:30am–3:30pm at the NDB-EDB Building in Colombo. The session covers order negotiation, buyer confidence, labelling/packaging, pricing, risk management, Incoterms and payment terms; limited seats, contact the Trade Facilitation Division to register.

China will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries from 1 May. The government also plans to promote Economic Partnership Agreements and upgrade 'green channels' to expand African exports' access to the Chinese market.

Kapruka Holdings (KPHL.N0000) reported a 138% YoY improvement in operating performance for the quarter ended 31 Dec 2025, with revenue up 21% and gross profit up 44%. Management said its platform strategy—Partner Central, Services Platform and Cross Border—drove asset-light marketplace growth and USD revenue.

Oniverse (Omega Line) plans a EUR 30 million investment in a new Sri Lanka plant to produce a capsule used in bras, underscoring Sri Lanka's role as a specialised manufacturing base for technically demanding intimate apparel; the group flags logistics, manpower and policy stability as key constraints.

IFC committed $28.6 million (part of a $40 million package) to CBL Group to fund its acquisition of PT Tri Jaya Tangguh in Indonesia and expand CBL's biscuit facility in Ghana. IFC will also provide advisory support aimed at job creation and increased female participation.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board held a hybrid awareness session on 11 February 2026 with about 200 exporters to explain the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), covering eligibility, documentation, rules of origin and how to claim tariff preferences.

Macktiles has launched Macktiles Australia in Victoria as part of a deliberate internationalisation push; the company cites a manufacturing capacity of 44,000 sqm/day and a reported 40% share of the Sri Lankan market. The move extends its global footprint and showroom network, now 50 locations.

At the 27th EU–Sri Lanka Joint Commission in Colombo the EU stressed time-bound delivery of Sri Lanka's commitments under the GSP+ scheme, urging alignment of anti-terror legislation; both sides also discussed investment opportunities under the EU's Global Gateway and cooperation on trade, fisheries and education.

Hayleys PLC reported consolidated Profit After Tax of Rs.14.02 billion for the nine months to 31 Mar 2026, with consolidated revenue up 16% y-o-y to Rs.421.40 billion. The board approved a Rs.9 billion rights issue, paid an interim dividend of Rs.6 per share, and Fitch reaffirmed its 'AAA (lka)' rating.